sifu
Kung fu teacher
Sifu is a Cantonese term of respect for a master or teacher, especially in martial arts.
Students address their instructor as sifu, acknowledging expertise and the mentor relationship: My sifu taught me wing chun for fifteen years.
The term has spread through martial arts films and Western kung fu schools, sometimes appearing as shifu in Mandarin contexts.
Chinese martial art
- taichiSlow Chinese martial art
- wushuChinese martial arts collectively
- qigongChinese health cultivation art
- taijiquanChinese internal martial art
forms · sparring · lineage · disciple · grandmaster · kata · blackbelt · aikido
Committed follower of teaching
- apprenticeLearner bound to employer
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- transmissionSending of information
teachings · discipleship · elder · protégé · successor · instruction · training · correction
Complete skill or control
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- skillAcquired ability through practice
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
competence · prowess · virtuosity · artistry · refinement · dedication · practice · experience
Profound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
- honorificRespectful form of address
bowing · loyalty · devotion · allegiance · gratitude · obedience · discipline · humility
kungfu
Chinese martial art
- taichiSlow Chinese martial art
- wushuChinese martial arts collectively
- qigongChinese health cultivation art
taijiquan · forms · sparring · lineage · disciple · grandmaster · kata · blackbelt · aikido · judo
disciple
Committed follower of teaching
- apprenticeLearner bound to employer
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
transmission · teachings · discipleship · elder · protégé · successor · instruction · training · correction · demonstration
mastery
Complete skill or control
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- skillAcquired ability through practice
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
precision · competence · prowess · virtuosity · artistry · refinement · dedication · practice · experience · knowledge
reverence
Profound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- homageExpression of deep respect
honorific · bowing · loyalty · devotion · allegiance · gratitude · obedience · discipline · humility · tribute
- kung fuwushu, Shaolin, Shaolin Temple, tai chi, taijiquan
- martial artskarate, taekwondo, judo, aikido, kickboxing
- martial arts filmskarate, ninja, samurai, wuxia, wire fu
- mentorshipmentor, apprentice, pupil, student, teacher-student
- martial arts instructorsmaster, grandmaster, taekwondo master, head instructor, tai chi master
- sagessage, wise man, wise woman, wise elder, seer